In the ever-expanding landscape of romantic comedy anime, a new contender has announced its arrival with a substantial early landing. The television adaptation of Kyuu Takahata and Yuuji Kaba’s manga Kakunaru Ue wa (known in English as Now That We Draw) has dropped its first promotional video along with a fresh batch of staff details, setting a premiere window of January 2027. This early reveal, coming more than two years before the scheduled broadcast, signals both the production’s ambition and the industry’s growing habit of staking out release slots far in advance. The announcement, made via the official anime website on Thursday, included a character visual that offers fans their first concrete look at the series’ aesthetic direction.
The January 2027 premiere places Kakunaru Ue wa in a competitive winter season, but the extended runway also gives the production team ample time to refine the animation and build anticipation. For readers of the source material, which has been running since early 2023, the anime represents the culmination of a relatively rapid ascent. The manga, serialized in Hakusensha’s Young Animal magazine, has already released eight volumes in Japan, with the English edition from Seven Seas Entertainment currently five volumes deep and a sixth scheduled for December 2024. The story, a romantic comedy centered on characters who draw, promises a blend of heartfelt relationships and artistic passion that has resonated with its audience.
The early reveal, coming more than two years before the scheduled broadcast, signals both the production's ambition and the industry's growing habit of staking out release slots far in advance.
When Does Kakunaru Ue wa Premiere and Who Is Behind It?
The Kakunaru Ue wa anime is set to premiere in January 2027. The series is directed by Shunsuke Ishikawa at the animation studio ROLL2. Deko Akao, known for her work on Witch Watch, is handling series composition and script, while Hiromi Nakagawa (Shiro Seijo to Kuro Bokushi) is designing the characters.
First Promotional Video and Character Visual: What They Reveal
The initial promotional video, released alongside a character visual, provides the first animated glimpse into the world of Kakunaru Ue wa. While the video itself is embedded on the official site (accessible via YouTube), the still character visual offers a clear look at the protagonist (or protagonists) and the overall art style. The visual, depicted above in the original announcement, showcases the character design work by Hiromi Nakagawa, whose previous credits include a gentle, expressive aesthetic that should serve the romantic comedy genre well. The choice to release a character visual so early suggests that the character designs are finalized and that the studio is confident in the visual identity of the series.
The PV, though short, hints at the tone and pacing. Given that the material is a romantic comedy with a strong emphasis on drawing and artistic expression, the animation style likely balances fluid character movement with moments of still, detailed artwork. The early release of this promo is also a strategic move to generate long-term buzz among manga fans and anime enthusiasts, ensuring that Kakunaru Ue wa remains on people’s radars as the 2027 premiere approaches.
Production Team: A Deep Bench of Specialists
Beyond the core directing and writing staff, the anime has assembled a deep roster of specialized talent. Sub-character design is handled by Momoka Izumi, whose experience as an animation director on Yofukashi no Uta (Call of the Night) suggests a keen eye for nuanced facial expressions and body language. Color design falls to Yurie Matsuura, who previously worked on Koi wa Futago de Warikirenai, promising a vibrant palette that can shift between the warmth of romance and the focus of creative work. Art direction is by Arei Saiga, whose background art credits include Kabushikigaisha Magi-Lumière, indicating a capability for detailed, atmospheric environments.
The photography director is Hayato Kifune of EOTA, who contributed to Nippon Sangoku, while the 3DCG work is in the hands of Masashi Watanabe (Akebi-chan no Sailor-fuku). Editing is managed by Mai Hasegawa (editz), whose credits include Blue Lock, and sound direction is handled by Fumiyuki Gou (Tomodachi no Imouto ga Ore ni dake Uzai). Sound effects are created by Ryuuta Nakahara (Jingai Kyoushitsu no Ningengirai Kyoushi), and the music is composed by Yoshiaki Miura. This assembly of industry veterans from notable series — from the action-oriented Blue Lock to the atmospheric Yofukashi no Uta — suggests that the production team aims for a polished final product that excels in both visual and audio storytelling.
Studio ROLL2: A Studio with Its Own Identity
The anime is being produced at ROLL2, a studio that has been steadily building a reputation for high-quality adaptations. Director Shunsuke Ishikawa, who previously directed Blue Lock: Episode Nagi, brings experience with both sports and character-driven narratives. ROLL2 is known for its clean animation and strong character acting, both essential for a romantic comedy that relies on subtle facial cues and comedic timing. The choice of studio reflects a commitment to delivering a visually engaging series that respects the manga’s art style while leveraging the advantages of animation.
A notable aspect of this announcement is the involvement of Deko Akao as series composer and scriptwriter. Akao’s previous work on Witch Watch, a comedy series from the creator of Sketchbook and Ao no Miburo, demonstrates a capacity for balancing humor with heartfelt moments. Her role will be critical in adapting the manga’s serialized narrative into a coherent episode-by-episode structure while preserving the charm of the original story.
The Manga Journey: From Young Animal to Seven Seas
Takahata and Kaba launched Kakunaru Ue wa in February 2023 in Young Animal, the same magazine that has housed other notable series like Berserk and Ore Monogatari!!. The romantic comedy manga quickly gained traction, and by April 2024, the seventh volume was released in Japan. The eighth volume followed on September 29, 2024, indicating a steady release rhythm of roughly one volume every five to six months.
For English-speaking readers, Seven Seas Entertainment picked up the license in September 2024 and has been publishing volumes at a rapid pace. The fifth volume arrived on July 28, 2024, and the sixth is scheduled for December 22, 2024. This aggressive localization schedule suggests strong confidence in the series’ international appeal. The manga’s premise — a story about characters who draw, presumably a romantic comedy built around an art school or artist lifestyle — taps into a niche that has proven popular in anime adaptations like Blue Period and Honey and Clover, though Kakunaru Ue wa seems to tilt more toward pure romantic comedy with art as a backdrop rather than a deep dive into the creative process.
What Sets Kakunaru Ue wa Apart in the Romantic Comedy Genre?
The romantic comedy genre in anime is crowded, but Kakunaru Ue wa distinguishes itself by weaving drawing and artistic expression into the core of its story. The title itself, Now That We Draw, suggests a narrative where the act of drawing becomes a catalyst for character relationships. This setup allows for visual metaphors — sketches that capture emotions, shared artistic sessions, and the vulnerability of sharing one’s work — that translate naturally into the animated medium. The creative team’s choices in key roles reflect an understanding of this visual focus. Having a sub-character designer like Momoka Izumi, who excels at conveying emotion through character animation, and a color designer like Yurie Matsuura, who can establish moods through palettes, indicates that the production is prioritizing the visual storytelling that the manga’s premise demands.
Moreover, the music composition by Yoshiaki Miura and sound direction by Fumiyuki Gou ensure that the auditory experience will complement the visual one. The sound effects credits of Ryuuta Nakahara, from a series that involves supernatural elements, may add a layer of subtlety to everyday sounds in an artistic setting. All these elements suggest that Kakunaru Ue wa is being treated as a multi-sensory project rather than a simple adaptation.
Implications of the January 2027 Release Date
Announcing a premiere more than two years in advance is uncommon but not unprecedented in the modern anime industry. It allows the production team to begin marketing early, securing a slot on fans’ calendars before other series are announced. For a romantic comedy based on a still-ongoing manga, this timing also ensures that the anime will have ample source material to adapt without catching up to the manga’s plot. By January 2027, the manga will likely have progressed by several more volumes, giving the anime room to cover a satisfying story arc without needing to create original content.
For fans, the long wait is mitigated by the steady release of manga volumes in both Japanese and English. The next year and a half will see more chapters and volumes, keeping interest alive. The promotional video and visual serve as a promise that the adaptation is actively in production, not just an announcement without substance. As additional staff details, voice cast, and second promos trickle out over the next two years, the anime will gradually build a dedicated following.
From a strategic perspective, the early announcement also pressures competing studios and series that might be planning similar releases for the same window. By claiming a January 2027 slot now, the production team ensures that Kakunaru Ue wa is a known quantity for distributors and streaming services, potentially securing a prominent placement on platforms like Crunchyroll, Netflix, or Amazon Prime.
The staff list itself, with its blend of veterans and specialists, indicates a budget-conscious but talent-rich production. ROLL2 is not one of the largest studios, but it has a track record of delivering appealing visuals on schedule. The involvement of freelancers like Arei Saiga and Masashi Watanabe suggests that the studio is pulling in external talent for specific roles, a common practice that allows smaller studios to compete with larger ones.
As the anime adaptation of Kakunaru Ue wa moves forward, the key question is whether it can capture the charm of the manga while adding the kinetic energy that only animation can provide. The first promo and character visual are encouraging signs, but the true test will come with the second trailer, which will likely show more of the animation in motion. Until then, fans of romantic comedies and slice-of-life stories have a new title to follow, and the still-growing manga gives them plenty to read while waiting for January 2027 to arrive.
In an industry where announcements often come mere months before a premiere, the extended lead time for Kakunaru Ue wa is a luxury that could pay dividends. It allows the creative team to refine their work, the marketing team to build buzz, and the audience to invest emotionally in a series that promises to blend the heat of romance with the quiet focus of the drawing board. Whether it becomes a standout in the crowded winter 2027 season will depend on how well the staff translates that promise into episodes. But with a first promo already in hand and a clear vision of the production, the foundation is solid.
- When does Kakunaru Ue wa premiere?The Kakunaru Ue wa anime is set to premiere in January 2027.
- Who is directing the Kakunaru Ue wa anime?Shunsuke Ishikawa is directing the series at animation studio ROLL2.
- Who is handling series composition and script?Deko Akao is handling series composition and script.
- Who is designing the characters?Hiromi Nakagawa is designing the characters.
- How many volumes of the manga have been released in Japan?The manga has released eight volumes in Japan.
